I received free samples of POM Wonderful mentioned in this post. By posting this recipe I am entering a recipe contest sponsored by POM Wonderful and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I was not compensated for my time.

Jell-O: a favorite snack and dessert of kids everywhere. It's fun, it's jiggly, it's colorful, and even grown-ups jump on the Jell-O bandwagon (usually with some sort of alcohol involved!). It's also an uninspired, sad snack at hospitals everywhere. :( Even more sad is the fact that this seemingly innocent treat is loaded with food dyes, added sugar or artificial sweetener, and all sorts of other artificial ingredients that I don't get very excited about eating or feeding to kids. That's why I took things into my own hands...

Photo credit: recipe4living.com

Enter the beautiful, naturally colored POM Wonderful 100% pomegranate juice! Not only is it free of food dye, added sugar, and chemicals X, Y & Z, it is absolutely loaded with antioxidants and just 8 oz has as much potassium as a banana.

The antioxidant content is thanks to the deep red hue (from anthocyanins) of the juice, so you can feel really good about where all that color is coming from. One 8 oz bottle contains the cold-pressed juice from two whole pomegranates (including the fruit - or pomegranate arils, pith, and rind!). POM - my clothes and my body sincerely thank you for doing all that work for us! We love getting all these benefits stain-free!

Side note, if you are determined to harvest your own pomegranate arils, have a look at this little how-to video. Pro tip: wear an apron or clothes you don't care about. :D

Now to turn this beautiful beverage into a jiggly gelatin... There are gelatin products all over the market. You've probably heard the stories of gelatin coming from horse hooves and various other leftover animal parts. Well, I'm not a vegetarian, but the extract of horse hooves certainly does not sound appealing to me. Of course, there are higher quality alternatives that come from grass-fed animals, or vegan gelatin substitutes (which I use in this recipe). Besides turning liquids to hand-held solids, gelatin and some of its vegan alternatives actually do offer some health benefits. They are a good source of protein, amino acids, and minerals known to improve joint health, skin, hair and nail growth.

Just as expected, when I combined the beautiful hued, antioxidant superpower of POM with gelatin, something pretty cool happened! Liquid turned to solid! Remember all those fun childhood science experiments? Baking soda volcanoes, making rock candy, homemade slime? Making (and playing with) Jell-o Jigglers fell into this category for me as a kid. Now that I'm older and wiser (I hope!) I feel pretty excited about sharing this favorite fun snack with my kids and others since I have such a nutritious option!

Full disclosure, my son is only 6 months old, so he didn't get to enjoy any of these jelly treats. My husband and I devoured them all and we enjoyed every little bite we popped in our mouths! In all seriousness, these make a very pretty, chic appetizer or finger-food for your next cocktail party or dinner. They are beautifully colored and have a perfectly tart, yet sweet taste.

Two ingredients. That's it. Well, 3 if you count the little bit of fruit I add for some fun texture. This literally could not be any easier. Boil juice, whisk in gel powder, pour into molds and let set in the fridge. Voila!

Pomegranate Jelly Bites

Serves 4

Cook time: 5 minutes

Total time: 4 hours

Ingredients:

2 cups POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice

1 10 gram packet of unflavored gelatin

1/2 cup pomegranate arils or other fruit of your choice, finely diced

Directions:

Prepare a 16-cup mini muffin tin (flexible, silicone muffin tins work VERY well here). Line each cup with a single layer of pomegranate arils (about 1 tsp) or other fruit of your choice.

In a small saucepan, bring 2 cups of POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice to a boil. Remove from heat and slowly sprinkle in gelatin while whisking until all the powder is completely dissolved.

Transfer liquid to a measuring cup for easy pouring. Pour the liquid into each mini muffin cup, on top of the pomegranate arils.

Place muffin tin in refrigerator and chill until solid - about 3-4 hours. When ready to eat, run a small rubber spatula or knife around the edges of each muffin cup to release the jelly bite and ENJOY!

NOTE: If you don't have mini muffin tins, or just want a larger serving size, just divide the mixture between four small ramekins or cups and serve topped with pomegranate arils or fruit of your choice.

Fresh gift ideas for the foodies, aspiring chefs and nutrition nuts in your life! These are some of my favorite things to use in the kitchen and everyday life to make healthy living a little more convenient and fun!

Today, Abigail Freyer Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) based in Los Angeles, is sharing with us some tips on ways to combat stiffness from poor desk posture. Click on the button below to download a copy of these helpful insights.

A busy work week can potentially result in stress, anxiety and overwhelm or even food cravings. Hear from today's Holistic Hustle expert, Kaylene about some incredible essential oils that you can carry with you every day to combat these blockers of your productivity and wellness!

Did you know September is National Better Breakfast Month? When hunger strikes first thing in the morning, starting your day off with a solid breakfast can make the difference between a great day and a mediocre one. A nutritious breakfast has been linked to better mental and physical performance throughout the day. So what exactly is a nutritious breakfast and how do you make better choices?

I teamed up with Flatout Flatbreads to help you find those answers and level up your breakfasts for good!

Start by taking a look at your normal breakfast choices. Are you a breakfast skipper? A pastry or pancakes kind of person? Oatmeal or toast? Do you make a green smoothie or veggie omelet for yourself most mornings?

Source: amysinvictus.wordpress.com

What does your normal breakfast routine look like? Is it hurried or non-existent? Leisurely enough to allow you to cook your breakfast most mornings? Depending on how you normally approach your first meal of the day, start by choosing just one single way to make it a little better (i.e. more nutritious) each and every day! Check out our suggestions below for some simple upgrades:

Source: www.multiplemayhemmamma.com

Make it Balanced

Look to get a balance of carbohydrates, protein and fats to give you all the nutrients and energy you need to last you all morning. For example, most breakfast staples - oatmeal, toast, cereal, pastries - are rich in carbohydrates, but don’t offer much fat or protein. Not only do protein and healthy fats help keep you satisfied longer after meals, they fuel your brain, your muscles, your hormone production, and help keep your blood sugar stable so you don’t have an energy crash soon after eating that bowl of cereal. Try adding some eggs, cream cheese and salmon lox, natural deli meats, chicken sausage, avocado, or beans to a Flatout flatbread for easy, balanced breakfast options. Bonus points for adding in whatever veggies you have on hand!

Make it Fiber-ful

Fiber keeps you full! No one likes eating a banana for breakfast in the car on the way to work only to be hungry an hour later in the middle of their morning meeting. Add some fiber to help you make it to lunch before hunger hits. Grab a whole grain, high fiber Flatout flatbread, spread it with a little peanut butter (or any other nut or seed butter you like), slice up that banana and wrap it up with the peanut butter for a portable, high fiber breakfast you can take on the go.

Source: www.flatoutbread.com

Make it Doable

If you have just 5 minutes every morning to make breakfast and usually grab a bagel on your way out the door, don’t commit to whipping up a homemade veggie omelet as a way to eat healthier. Instead, make it easy on yourself and choose something you’re confident you can do every day. For example, swap that bagel for a high protein, high fiber Flatout flatbread, microwave a couple eggs or egg whites for some quick scrambled eggs, toss in whatever veggies you have on hand and wrap it up for a quick and delicious breakfast wrap ready in minutes.

Source: www.flatoutbread.com

Are you up for the challenge to make your breakfasts just a little bit better each day to level up your performance?

Try out some of these other delicious, easy breakfast recipes using Flatout Wraps, FoldIt and Pizzas! Click here to find a variety of Flatout Flatbreads in the deli section at your local grocery store.

Thanks as always for following me on Instagram/Facebook/Pinterest and sharing me with all your friends, family, coworkers and strangers on the street. :) I have availability for new clients at the moment, so if you know any health-focused companies looking for nutrition consultant or coach, send them my way!

Layers of light and flakey buttermilk biscuits, tart greek yogurt lemon custard, and fresh, sweet strawberries form an unconventional trifle that make this upgraded, low sugar childhood favorite a beautiful dessert for any meal during strawberry season!

Most of us have done breakfast for dinner, but how about dinner for breakfast?! Tostadas are one of my go-to choices when I get Mexican food. It’s pretty much just a pile of delicious ingredients on a crispy tortilla - easy enough for busy mornings! Of course, this recipe includes a few nutritious upgrades to your typical tostada.

I don’t know about you, but I’m always looking for new, fun recipes to make and share with my friends when we get together for cook-outs or pot lucks. Summer BBQs are a prime opportunity to share your love of creative, delicious (and healthy), cooking!

With that in mind, I decided there should be an awesome resource out there for all your summer BBQ recipe needs! I polled some of my fellow Registered Dietitians who like whip up healthy, AND oh-so-tasty creations in the kitchen. What follows are some of their best recipes to make your time at the grill, and with your friends and family, a lot more fun and delicious than just serving up those same old burgers, hot dogs, and potato salad every weekend.

We've got you covered in the burgers (of the turkey, beef, and non-meat variety), and sides departments! Scroll through, check them out, try them out at your next party, and let us know how much everyone loves them (and you for making them!)!

What kind of nutrition nerds would we be if we didn't try to hide veggies in a dish?! The best part about this is? You'd never know veggies were in there! In fact, there is research being done on college kids with this very ground beef blend concept to prove it!

Sweet & Easy - two of my favorite words! If you choose to use super lean ground turkey breast (97-99% lean), you often end up with a pretty dry burger patty. However, the sweet potato mix-in keeps these burgers nice and moist!

Mediterranean flavors come from sun-dried tomatoes, feta and olives in the salad and lots of oregano in the dressing. The satisfaction factor of this salad is bumped up even more by the fiber and protein rich lentils!

Ok, prunes may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you're thinking salad toppings, but these are such an awesome sub for dried cranberries or other fruit in a salad! They lend a chewy texture and sweet flavor to the already diverse salad components that make this dish a party in your mouth!

These look gorgeous and are such a bright, zesty, simple, yet incredibly tasty dish to prepare for a big group in no time flat on the grill! Lemon, mint, and tangy feta are some of my favorite Summer flavors!

The color of this dish makes it extra festive and fun! The perfect way to update that boring white potato salad on your table.

Guamamol-eggs! Guacamole + Eggs = Guacamol-eggs! No one will miss those mayonnaise-y items that look congealed and crusty after about 20 minutes in the sun! These guacamole filled egg halves will be gone well before the 20 minute time mark! Even if they do sit out longer, they'll still be safe and delectable enough to devour!

Now, off with you to play with some new ingredients in the kitchen and enjoy your summer parties! I want to hear how it goes!

If you try any of these recipes, tag the appropriate recipe-creator on social media channels to show us your handiwork! I'm at @jeannereillyrd!

Thank you, as always, for following me on Instagram/Facebook/Pinterest and sharing me with all your friends, family, coworkers and strangers on the street. :) I’m have availability for new clients at the moment, so if you know of any health-focused companies or individuals looking for nutrition consultant or coach, send them my way! Happy grilling!

A blank canvas. That's how I see tacos! You can literally choose any ingredients you like, mix and match the flavors, toppings, and vessels (that would be a tortilla, in this case) to make your perfect combination.